Terrific backpack, finally escaped the 4th of July curse of too buggy, too rainy, too cold -- this was sunny, just perfect. Saturday, we backpacked into Pete Lake. This is my kind of backpack-4 miles and flat! This is the backpack you can haul in the raft and the Chardonnay. Several creek crossings, but very minor -- touch a few rocks and you're across. There are several good camp spots around Pete Lake, which eventually all filled up by the end of Saturday. Saturday afternoon we dayhiked up Trail 1329 to Waptus Pass. The first half-mile or so is exceedingly steep and rocky, so much so that I would think stock couldn't handle it, but we saw several piles of horse poop. There are 2-3 scenic waterfalls on the way up, and views of The Three Queens mountains. Waptus Pass itself is a disappointment -- no views, just a trail junction in the middle of a blueberry bog. The half-mile or so before the Pass has a fair amount of horse-churned mud. There are a couple stream crossings that are quite doable, but a little tricky. Sunday, we dayhiked to Spectacle Lake. About a mile from Pete Lake at the intersection with Trail 1323B was a surprise -- a very wide,rushing wet-foot crossing across Lemah Creek. We poked around for a log but gave up after we discovered there are actually three creeks to cross. We instead turned right on Trail 1323B -- a very pretty flat route with sturdy new bridges, but it adds two miles to the 9-mile hike RT from Pete Lake. The trail continues quite flat until the last mile or so. Then it goes from about 3200 feet to about 4300 feet, but switchbacks are well-graded so not too bad of a grunt. (Of course, we weren't doing it with backpacks!) On the way up, there is a spectacular bridge below a spectacular waterfall. When you get to the top, there is an intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail. It's not obvious that you should turn right to get to the lake. Shortly after that intersection is a rocky ridge with dramatic views of the lake and all of the surrounding mountains. We turned around there as it is perhaps a 300' drop down to the lake. On the way back, we didn't want to repeat the two-mile detour around the stream crossing. We talked to others who just gutted it out and crossed the stream. We instead found a log over stream #1, then jumped on stones across creek #2, then crossed a log over stream #3. So the good news is that there are logs, the bad news is you have to hack your way through lots of impenetrable undergrowth (Eeek! Salmonberry vines! Devil's club! Clumps of alders!) and the log over stream #3 is several hundred yards upstream. I suspect by late in the season the river crossing would be the preferable alternative, but bring your Tevas.

Today's goal was for a summit of the high point (5560+) of Polallie ridge. I used the Pete Lk. trail to join up with the Tired Creek trail which connects with the Polallie Ridge trail. The weather was ideal and the bugs were out in force at the trailhead. I made great time to the old lookout site at Pt 5482 which is one of the best viewing spots to see from the Three Queens all the way to Mt Daniel. I continued on the Polallie Ridge trail until it drops off the ridge. I merely followed the humps and bumps of this enjoyable ridge traverse until I reached the Highpoint. This Highpoint is about 1.5 south of the old lookout site. As I reached the final push to the summit I noticed quite a bit of bear scat along the ridgeline. Upon reaching the summit I was treated to what for me is a rare site, a bear! Well, actually I just saw a glimpse of his rear as he ran away. I waited a minute to give some much needed distance and then continued on. There is some patchy snow and the bugs were of no concern near the summit. I hustled out, so as to make my dinner date, from car to car 5.5 hours.

Pete Lake trail is a treat even in the rain, or maybe especially in the rain when the fainthearts are not wall to wall on the trail. There are patches of snow which present no problems, a bit of high water to test your footgear, a fun lof crossing, and the payoff, handsome Pete Lake. More backpackers therre than car campers at Cooper Lake! Beware of dogs (their owners, I mean) as my partner was attacked and bitten by an off leash pit bull in sight of its owners and I was set upon by someone's pooch out of sight and control of its.

The steep trail up to Waptus Pass is so well graded its a pleasure to hike, with waterfalls along the way for entertainment. The up top is snowy, a trail finding cahllenge, but the secluded and wild pass are a great spring destination.

On Saturday afternoon I took a little day stroll up to Pete Lake. I knew it would be busy being the holiday weekend and all, but I want to see how melted out it was… and yep, it’s melted!

Snow: I hit some patches along the way, but they were small and no big deal. All the campsites that I saw were melted out. It made the trail a bit muddy in spots, but totally passable.

Blow down: The trail is clear for about 2.5 miles, and then there is a little blow down. I counted 7 logs, only 2 were really big. One of them is just before the big creek crossing and is big enough that it could pose a problem for stock, but rumor has it (my friend @ the FS) that it should be cleared by next weekend (Thanks trail crew!!! I love you!). Ummm, what else….

People: Guess how many people I counted in the 8 miles? No really, guess…. Okay, give up? 49. That’s right… f o u r t y – n i n e ! Dang… Five of them were on bikes (outside of the Wilderness Boundary) and there were no bike tracks once I passed the marker.

It was a good hike… it rained quite a bit, but all the people up there seemed happy to be out there despite the damp. The forest and rivers we absolutely beautiful! The little meadow @ about mile 3 is breathtaking. Lots of palliated woodpeckers.

Cheers!